In November, Maggie and I spent a few weeks in Nebraska visiting friends and one beautiful day we got to enjoy the peace and warmth of Melissa's new house. Between a wonderful Breakfast for lunch and some tasty baked good snacks we sat down with mics and a camera to record some listener questions. If you follow @down.bythe.river_podcast on Instagram you have probably already seen some reels from this time. If you haven't yet go ahead and give that account a follow and take a peak at our hilarious facial expressions.

Well there was so much good content from that conversation that couldn't be edited down into a 3 minute video that I decided to give you all a bonus extra episode this holiday season.

Please enjoy the holidays with your friends and family. Maggie, Melissa and I look forward to getting back together with you all in Spring of 2026 for season three.

Go ahead and give this podcast a follow and consider rating and reviewing. You can also follow along with Maggie and I as we jump back into travel in the new year by following @vanosaurandmaggie on instagram or tiktok.

I can’t believe we are already here, the end of season two! Melissa and I got back together just a few days ago to talk about what where we have been, what next year will be bringing and recap some of the amazing podcast highlights.

I really hope you all enjoyed the many fantastic guests we had on this season as they shared about living life abroad, life on the road, taking on retirement, building a family, starting a business and overall living life after changing the rules.

But don’t worry I am already planning for season three and many more adventures to share as Maggie and I take on another year of Vanlife.

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

I have talked before about my trip to Iceland in 2017 and how it kick-started my love of campervan travel. Before that trip happened, a friend recommended that I start following “Iceland with a View” to learn all about the hidden gems, insider tips and must see stops in Iceland. Jeannie is the creator of “Iceland with a View” and is my incredible guest this week.

Jeannie was born and raised in Wisconsin USA in a family who loved travel and exploring nature. It was in adulthood that she got the bug for international travel and during an epic honeymoon in Iceland she and her husband fell in love with the country. Within the year they had taken all the necessary steps and arrived back in Iceland to start their life full time living abroad.” Iceland with a View” started as a way to share about their lives in Iceland and has grown over the last decade into a go to travel guide to Iceland for every kind of traveler.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram & Facebook: @icelandwithaview

icelandwithaview.com

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

This week I am so excited to welcome Natalie who I met way back in the fall of 2018 when I took on a leadership role within Admissions. Natalie was the intern supporting my team and an invaluable asset to our team. Over the years we have worked together in many capacities forming a deep friendship over our shared love of leadership, personal growth and tasty food.

Natalie started her love of leadership through a high school summer workshop hosted by Launch Leadership which grew into a over decade long volunteer commitment, connecting her to future jobs, networks and friends. Multiple positions, a coaching certification most of a graduate degree later Natlie is putting her love of leadership and personal growth into action in every aspect of her life as she helps college students determine where their passions are leading. Natalie recently launched her own coaching business and is in the early stages of figuring out how this thing that she loves can become the job she is fueled by every day.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @neb_nat

https://coachnataliebecerra.my.canva.site/home

The Holidays are upon us and with that comes a huge focus on gifts. The year as you are out shopping for gifts for those you love, consider giving to those who don’t have as much. Toys for Tots, Angel Tree and many other organizations help make the magic of Christmas real for children in your community who otherwise might not have much under the tree this year.

www.toysfortots.org/

www.salvationarmyusa.org/walmart-angel-tree/

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

This week I am really excited to introduce you all to someone who’s family came into my life way back when I was starting college and who has only continued to be champions and supporters of my life as I grew and transitioned careers and homes. Charlie and I met through my time at the University of Nebraska while I was starting my career and he was in his final career chapter. He was aways someone who came at situations with a clam and solution-oriented mind helping to teach me that in almost every scenario just a little patience and attention can go a long way.

In 2023 Charlie retired after 40 years of working in higher education and took on a great adventure to kick off the next chapter of his life. He and a few friends flew to Europe to trek 500 miles of the Camino de Santiago. Along the way they experienced the culture, sampled local dishes and enjoyed the little moments together finding their way into the pilgrimage of a lifetime.

This holiday season there are so many families coming up on celebrations while facing the challenge of food insecurity. Please some time to give back this holiday season through food drives, angel trees and volunteer organizations in your local community. And if you have the means please consider a monetary donation to your local food bank so that they can purchase the good needed to fill in the gaps for families this holiday season.

https://www.feedingamerica.org/

https://www.nokidhungry.org/

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

This week I am really excited to have back on the pod Jonnie owner of Midwest Vanbuilders and host of Jonnie’s Journey on YouTube. Jonnie came into my life early in my own vanlife adventures when I stopped to camp for a night at her van shop in Missouri.

Jonnie has created a vibrant community of vanlifers, travelers and nomads both online through her YouTube channel and in person with others she has met through her business and travels. Building a community of like-minded people is even more important when you are living a life that can be very isolating, and Jonnie’s channel helps to connect many from across the country who are living life by their own rules.

If you would like to learn more about Jonnie’s own journey to Vanlife and starting her shop Midwest Vanbuilders go back to season 1 episode 3 to hear more.

Jonnie’s Remodeled Van: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLdJPzpEvw0&list=PLXWo6KvcUAYMw0ekreeOGKt0A8ka1Yxfk&index=45

Shawn’s Remodeled Van: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEy8cqVCeJM

This holiday season there are so many families coming up on celebrations while facing the challenge of food insecurity. Please find some time to give back this holiday season through food drives, angel trees and volunteer organizations in your local community. And if you have the means please consider a monetary donation to your local food bank so that they can purchase the good needed to fill in the gaps for families this holiday season.

https://www.feedingamerica.org/

https://www.nokidhungry.org/

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

Jordan grew up in western South Dakota before moving to Nebraska to attend college and start building his life. He has always been a person of integrity, intention and deep love of community. Please enjoy hearing from Jordan all about the many times he changed the rules in his own life, how we created his family and the intentional and personal celebrations along the way.

This holiday season there are so many families coming up on celebrations while facing the challenge of food insecurity. Please some time to give back this holiday season through food drives, angel trees and volunteer organizations in your local community. And if you have the means please consider a monetary donation to your local food bank so that they can purchase the good needed to fill in the gaps for families this holiday season.

www.feedingamerica.org/

www.nokidhungry.org/

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

This week’s mid-season catch up has us answering questions from listeners about cooking in the van, what we appreciate most in and out of the van, how plans pivot while on the road and what we have been up to since September.

November kicks off the holiday season and as always, the holidays can be hard on many in our communities. Even more this year as the Government goes into a second month of shut down and food assistance programs are not being funded. If you are able, please consider making a cash donation to your local food bank so they can continue to fill in the gaps for the most vulnerable in our communities. If you are unsure what local resources are available in your area you can visit FeedingAmerica.org to find local resources or make donations nationally.

www.feedingamerica.org

www.nokidhungry.org

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

Rachel grew up in the Midwest going to summer camp and attending college in Iowa but a pivot at the end of college changing her mind on her future career took her to Germany where she discovered a whole new side to herself. In spring 2016 just days after graduating from college Rachel took off on a one-year immersive experience abroad in Berlin Germany that turned into a decade of finding her true self and perfect place as an expat. Join Rachel and I as we talk about changing the rules and letting yourself find community, happiness and the perfect pace of life far away from home in a foreign county.

Nederland Colorado a town that is very dear to my heart and the place I am finalizing this episode from recently suffered from a tragic fire that burned down the Caribou Village Shopping Center home to 8 local businesses. The community is committed to rebuilding and coming back stronger. If you have the ability, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me listed below supporting the business owners and employees from the affected businesses as they find their footing after this tragic event.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-nederland-shops-and-employees-postfire

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.

Don and Karen have been weekend campers for years in their vintage cruiser camper trailer exploring the Texas countryside and Midwest. In 2024 they took off on a month-long adventure camping their way to Toronto and back seeing many friends along the way. This summer they did it again with the destination of the Big 5 National Parks in Utah, but this trip required changing the rules a bit as many of their stops would require them to camp without power or water hook-ups a different experience than their norm. They planned, prepared, adjusted and took off an epic 36 days out into the desert and are here to share the story.

Nederland Colorado a town that is very dear to my heart and the place I am finalizing this episode from recently suffered from a tragic fire that burned down the Caribou Village Shopping Center home to 8 local businesses. The community is committed to rebuilding and coming back stronger. If you have the ability, please consider donating to the Go Fund Me listed below supporting the business owners and employees from the affected businesses as they find their footing after this tragic event.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/aid-nederland-shops-and-employees-postfire

Follow @Down.bythe.River_podcast on Instagram for the latest updates and @vanosaurandmaggie on Instagram and TikTok for a deeper look into the adventures of our host Georgia and her pup Maggie as they continue into year two of full time vanlife.